Latch mechanism



Feb. 25, 1964 E. c. BULLOCK ETAL 3,122,402

LATCH MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS AR'LE C. BULLOCK AME/141V R. OZAEE 1964 E. c. BULLOCK ETAL 3,122,402

LATCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1962 INVENTORS 4915 c. Bl/ZLOCK BY AflF/AA/ R OZA'E Que/2y AWQQMEVS' FIG. 6

ited States Patent,

3,122,492 LATCH MECHANESM Earle Q. Bullock, East Grand Rapids, and Adrian R. Qlree, Caledonia, Mich assignors to teelease, inc, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan File-d Mar. 22, 1962, gar. No. 181,553 6 Gaines. (Cl. 312-320) This invention relates to a latching mechanism, and more particularly to a latching and opening means for a drawer or the like, especially in a file cabinet.

Conventional file cabinet drawers are characterized by a generally U-shaped pull handle projecting from the face of the drawer, and a latch-releasing pivotal lever mounted adjacent the handle. This construction has several disadvantages. Firstly, the mechanism is relatively awkward to operate with one hand, since ones fingers must be inserted in the handle and then the hand must usually be twisted somewhat to pivot the latch lever with the last digit of the index finger to unlatch the drawer, while the handle is being simultaneously pulled. Secondly, these drawers are operable with only one hand, usually the right hand, since the little finger on the left hand is not long enough or strong enough to pivot the latch lever when the hand is inserted in the handle. Thirdly, conventional handle and latch levers are prone to catch the clothes of a passerby, especially pockets, due to their projecting nature. Fourthly, the projecting handle and latch lever are prone to being bent, broken or otherwise damaged during movement and handling of the cabinet. Fifthly, the projecting handle and lever on each drawer of the cabinet detract appreciably from the otherwise straight-line aesthetic qualities of the the cabinet.

it is an object of this invention to provide a latching mechanism operable by movement in more than one direction, alternatively, and by either hand.

It is another object to provide a recessed latching mechanism for drawers, doors, and the like for cabinets and related items.

it is a more specific object of this invention to provide a file cabinet drawer latch and opening mechanism that is easy to operate, that may be readily shifted by simply moving the hand sideways and sliding an element with the strong upper digits and knuckles of the fingers. No twisting movement of the hand is required. Further, it may be operated by either hand, thereby preventing the necessity of switching materials from one arm to the other before unlatching the drawer. Moreover, clothes of passers-by cannot catch and rip on the novel mechanism since there are no parts substantially projecting from the front face of the panel. Neither is there any projecting handle or latch to be bent or broken while handling the cabinet. Lastly, with the removal of these projecting parts, the aesthetic appeal of the entire cabinet is greatly increased.

These and many other objects of this invention will be apparent from studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a file cabinet embodying the novel drawer opening mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of the front of one of the file cabinet drawers illustrated in 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of the drawer illustrated in FIG. 2, with the inner cover panel removed, showing the novel drawer opening mechanism;

HG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 when actuated to unlatch the drawer;

Fl". 5 is an exploded view of the elements of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4; and

1G. 6 is a top fragmentary sectional view taken on plane Vl-Vl of FIG. -1.

Basically, the inventive drawer opening mechanism includes a drawer front panel having a recessed portion or opening adapted to receive the fingers of a person in a manner to enable the drawer and panel to be pulled, latch means adjacent the opening and adapted to removably engage a portion of the cabinet to latch the drawer in a closed position, a shiftable element behind the drawer panel adjacent the recess and adapted to be shifted by lingers in the recess while the panel is being pulled, and means connecting the shiitable element to the latch means adapted to shift the latch means to a releasing condition with shifting of said element. Preferably, two slidable elements are mounted on opposite sides of the recess, usually on laterally opposite sides, each adapted to be shifted by fingers so that the drawer may be unlatched by either hand, and by movement or" the hand in either of opposite directions in the recess. Suitable biasing means returns the element to the original position with stop means determining the limit of said movement. The slidable elements preferably cover the entire end areas of the recess or openings to prevent finger pinching therein, and are clearly visibly positioned for ease of operation.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 file cabinet ill includes a plurality of drawers 12 each having a drawer opening mechanism recessed within the drawer. The front surface of the drawer is substantially flush all over. On the front of each drawer is a bracket 14 which defines an upper area 15 adapted to receive an identification card or the like and outlines a lower area 13 which comprises a recess or opening adapted to receive the fingers of a person opening the drawer.

Adjacent opposite sides of the opening 18 and completely covering a portion of the end areas thereof, is a first slidable element 2.4 and a second slidable element 22. These elements, as well as the additional mechanism to be described, are normally covered on the inside of the drawer by an inner panel 24- to prevent interference of the mechanism with materials normally contained in the drawer.

The generally .l-shaped slidable element 20 is aflixed on its longer leg 32 as by welding to a guide bar 39. Guide bar 3t? extends into a hat-shaped bearing guide and support 36 an red on its co-planar legs to panel 38. Affixed to link 3 as by weldrnent is a vertically, downwardly extending leg 2-6 which is afixed at its lower opposite end to an elongated, generally horizontal link 5-". Link 42 extends under opening 38 and includes an offset plate 46 on its far end. Plate 46 is in turn attached at its lower end to leg 43 which terminates in a latch or detent adapted to catch behind a keeper surface 54 (FIG. 6) which is alfixed to portion 55 of cabinet ill. It will be obvious that the arrangement and attachment of the several legs just described may be modified in a variety of ways. For example, the interconnected elements may comprise one integral stamping. Guide leg 69 of element 22 fits slidably within a second hat-shaped bearing guide 62, the legs of which are also attached to panel A special pivotal link 64 connects leg of slidable element 22 to elongated horizontal link 42. Link is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a suitaole stud 79 to protruding boss 68 (FIG. 6) stamped into plate 38. The link is pivotally connected to leg 66 by theinterfittlng of horn 72 which extends normal to link 6a: into a circular opening 74 in leg 69 (FIG. 5). Likewise, a similar second born '76 on the lower end of link 164 into circular opening 78 in elongated horizontal To provide biasing means for the mechanism, a transverse flange 8t} (FIG. 3) on the lower edge of the plate 33 is utilized to mount one end of a tension coil spring 82, the other end of which is attached to the free bent end of elongated link 4-2. This spring forms a biasing force tending to move the elements and 22 toward the center of the opening 15. This movement is li a suitable stop means such as stop be stamped from the flange Obviously, the stop moms may be widely varied.

Plate 38 is attached to the back of the front :rawer panel by inserting a pair of threaded studs and 92 integral with bracket 14 through a mate of openings provided in the front panel, throu n a pair of openings 94 and 95 (EEG. in the plate 33 so that nuts 93 and 99 (FIG. 3) can be attache. thereto.

Operation To open the drawer 12, the fingers of either hand are inserted into opening 13. The hand is then shifted either to the right or to the left. If the hand is shifted to the left as viewed in FlG. 1, the upper digits knu "es of the fingers will contact slidawe element 22 and ft it slidably away from the center of the opening, with guide rod 68 moving further into guide support 62. This causes link 64 to rotate clockwise (as viewed 3 and 4) to shift elongated link 42 to the left as 1 .istrated in phantom. Movement of link 42 to the left likewise causes movement of portions and 48 and detent 5t? to the left as indicated in phantom. Thereby, detent 5?; moves from behind keeper 5d (to the right as viewed in FIG. 6) to allow the drawer to be pulled by the fingers inserted over the lower edge of opening Since link 42 moves to the left as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, portion 40, guide rod 3% and slidable element 26 also move away from the center of the opening l3, simultaneously with movement of element 1-2; away from the center of the opening. This movement occurs against the bias of spring 82. Upon release of the slidable element, spring 32 causes link 42 and thus detent 5?; to move to its original extended position. The slidable elements also simultaneously shift back toward the center of opening 18 and toward each other. The closing of the drawer is effected by pushing it into the closed position, so that detent '50 rides along the tapered surface 51 of keeper against the bias of spring 82 and snaps into its lat hed position.

Instead of the person pushing his fingers against slidable element 22, they may be pushed in the opposite direction against slidable element which t" causes guide 39 to move within bearing g ide 56; Likevnse causes portion 40 and elongated li. k 52 to move to the left against the bias of spring 82. Link 64 win pivot about its central pivotal mount '76 to simultaneously move sli able element 22 away from the center of the opening.

Several modifications of the stru ure illustrated within the principles of the invention taught will rea ily occur to those in the art upon studying this specifica' on. Thus, the inventive recessed drawer opening mechanism operable with either hand and by movement in either direction is not to be limited to the illustrated form set forth, but only by the scope of the appended cl irns and the reasonably equivalent structures thereto.

We claim:

1. A latch actuator mechanism comprising: a first slidable actuator element; latching detent means; linking means fixedly connecting said first slidable actuator element and said detent means; a second slidable actuator element adapted to slide in the opposite dire tion to the sliding movement of said first element; and pivotal linkage means between said second slidable element and said linking means whereby either of said slidable elements is adapted to shift said detent means when slidably shifted.

2. In a file cabinet drawer, a handleless front panel construction comprising an outer panel having an opening truding slightly within said opening to allow shifting thereof away from said opening by the side of the fingers when bent around said bottom edge; said element being slid-ably mounted, being biased to said protruding position t wards said opening by biasing means; latch means between said panels adjacent an edge of said front panel to removably engage a portion of the cabinet to latch said drawer in a closed position; and linkage between said shiftable element and said latch means to unlatch and open the drawer by fingers which are bent around said bottom edge, are shifting said element, and are pulling on said front panel to open said drawer.

3. In a file cabinet drawer, a handleless front panel construction comprising an outer panel having an opening therein with top, bottom, and side edges, said opening being of sufficient size to receive the fingers of a persons hand; an inner cover panel spaced behind said panel sufficiently to allow the fingers to bend around said bottom edge of said opening to pull on said outer panel for pulling said drawer open; a shiftable element mounted between said panels along an edge of said opening to allow shifting thereof away from said opening by the fingers when bent around said bottom edge; said element being slidably mounted, and being biased towards said opening by biasing means; latch means adjacent an edge of said front panel to removably engage a portion of the cabinet to latch said drawer in a closed position; and linkage between said shiftable element and said latch means to unlatch and open the drawer by fingers which are bent around said bottom edge, are shifting said element, and are pulling on said front panel to'open said drawer.

4. in a drawer for a cabinet, a front panel including an opening adapted to receive the fingers of a person in a manner to enable the panel and drawer to be pulled; latch means adjacent said panel adapted to removably engage a portion of the cabinet to latch said drawer in a closed position; a first slidable element behind said panel adjacent one edge of said opening and adapted to be slidably shifted by fingers in said opening; linkage means connecting said first element to said latch means and adapted to shift said latch means to a releasing condition with sliding of said element; a second slidable element behind said panel adjacent another edge of said opening and adapted to be slidably shifted; linkage means between said first and second elements adapted to cause shifting of either elernent by shifting of the other element; and each of said elements adapted to be shifted by fingers inserted into said opening for unlatching said latch means and pulling said drawer open. a

5. In a drawer for a cabinet, a front panel including an opening adapted to receive the fingers of a person in a manner to enable the panel and drawer to be pulled; latch means adjacent said panel adapted to removably engage a portion of the cabinet to latch said drawer in a closed position; a first slidable element behind said panel adjacent one side edge of said opening and adapted to be slidably shifted laterally in a direction away from said opening by fingers in said opening; linkage means connecting said first element to said latch means and adapted to shift said latch means to a releasing condition with sliding of said element; a second slidable element behind said panel adjacent the opposite side edge of said opening and adapted to be slidably shifted laterally in a direction away from said opening; linkage connecting means between said first and second elements adapted to cause shifting of either element by shifting of the other element; and each of said elements adapted to be shifted by fingers inserted into said opening for unlatching said latch means and pulling said drawer open.

6. In a drawer for a cabinet, a front panel having an opening therein; an attachable mounting plate behind said front panel and having an opening corresponding with said panel opening; a first slidable element movably mounted adjacent one edge of the opening in said mounting panel; a second slidable element movably mounted adjacent the opposite edge of said opening in said mounting plate; bearing guide means for said first and second slidable elements; an elongated linking element extending generally horizontally from said first sliding element and terminating in a latch means adapted to engage a portion of said cabinet to hold said drawer in a closed position; a connecting link extending between said second sliding element and said elongated linking element, and pivotally References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,081 Simmons May 24, 1910 1,029,804 Giese June 18, 1912 1,137,828 Anderson May 4, 1915 1,453,121 Benner Apr. 24, 1923 1,963,954 Clark June 26, 1934 2,689,777 Wolters Sept. 21, 1954 

1. A LATCH ACTUATOR MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FIRST SLIDABLE ACTUATOR ELEMENT; LATCHING DETENT MEANS; LINKING MEANS FIXEDLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST SLIDABLE ACTUATOR ELEMENT AND SAID DETENT MEANS; A SECOND SLIDABLE ACTUATOR ELEMENT ADAPTED TO SLIDE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO THE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST ELEMENT; AND PIVOTAL LINKAGE MEANS BETWEEN SAID SECOND SLIDABLE ELEMENT AND SAID LINKING MEANS WHEREBY EITHER OF SAID SLIDABLE ELEMENTS IS ADAPTED TO SHIFT SAID DETENT MEANS WHEN SLIDABLY SHIFTED. 